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Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying Preview
The excitement builds as ten drivers prepare to compete for pole position in the qualifying rounds of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Notable names include Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, George Russell, and several others who have shown impressive speed throughout the practice sessions.
Hamilton Makes It Through to Q3
In a dramatic finish to Q2, Lewis Hamilton narrowly advances to Q3, finishing just seven milliseconds ahead of Alex Albon, who placed 11th. Other notable exits from this round include Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Isack Hadjar, and Gregoire Bearman, who ended in 12th to 15th respectively.
Hamilton had a tense moment, dropping into the bottom five as Lawson briefly took the 10th spot. However, he saved his best for last, securing a ninth place finish in the end.
Heading into the concluding minutes of Q2, Gasly, Bearman, Hadjar, Alonso, and Lawson found themselves in precarious positions, while Hamilton, alongside Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz, kept a close watch from above.
Verstappen returned to the pits after a small incident involving launching his car off a curb, prompting the Red Bull team to quickly address the car’s underside. Meanwhile, he and Piastri set the pace initially but were soon surpassed by Norris, who logged a time just five hundredths quicker.
The Ferrari duo appeared to struggle for speed, raising questions about whether either Hamilton or Charles Leclerc would secure a spot in Q3.
Verstappen Dominates Q1
The first qualifying session concluded with Max Verstappen asserting his dominance, clocking a lap nearly three tenths faster than Lando Norris, who took second place, while Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three.
Drivers including Lance Stroll, Jack Doohan, Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto unfortunately did not make it past Q1, finishing in positions 16th to 20th.
Verstappen’s impressive lap of 1:27.778 set the early benchmark for the day, while Pierre Gasly moved up to ninth just in time to avoid elimination. After a rocky start, Hamilton managed to secure a top ten position, albeit a notable eight tenths off Norris’s leading time of 1:27.805.
As the action unfolded, Piastri emerged as a contender by setting the fastest lap early on with a time of 1:28.026, followed closely by Norris and then a determined Russell, Yuki Tsunoda, and Antonelli, who all clocked competitive times.
Qualifying Commences
Qualifying activities kicked off with Esteban Ocon being the first to leave the pits. With all eyes on the session, speculation arose regarding potential unexpected exits and standout performances.
Ellie Hardings shared insights on the importance of this qualifying round for Lando Norris. With a challenging performance in Bahrain, Norris is aiming to find his confidence once again against his teammate Piastri. The competitive nature of their partnership only adds to the intrigue of who might secure pole.
A discussion has also arisen regarding the future of Max Verstappen, who openly critiqued his current car’s performance after a disappointing race in Bahrain. He reassured fans of his commitment to Red Bull but expressed a drive for improvement.
Lewis Hamilton, settling into his new role with Ferrari, is making strides to harness the full potential of his vehicle, having achieved a noteworthy fifth place finish in Bahrain. Experts are closely watching his progression at this critical point in the season.
As qualifying approaches, we can expect fierce competition as drivers seek to claim their spots upfront, with particularly intense scenarios brewing among the McLarens, the Ferrari team, and the bullish Red Bull crew.
Anticipation Builds
We eagerly await what promises to be a thrilling qualifying session, set to unfold at Jeddah’s Corniche Circuit. With Oscar Piastri having recently secured a pole position victory in Bahrain, all eyes will be on him and Norris as they aim to continue their strong performances this season. The session commences under the vibrant lights of Jeddah, signaling yet another exciting chapter in the Formula One calendar.
Source
www.theguardian.com